MRes Humanities and Social Sciences

Course Overview

Why take this course?

The Research Master's or MRes is unique because the course content is determined by you, the student. Offering you the opportunity for tailored-learning to meet your academic or professional needs, you get to work with relevant staff to set your own timetable, objectives and deadlines. This highly flexible course consists of a range of subject streams offering the opportunity for in-depth study of a specific area of interest. The opportunities for developing your research skills will equally enhance your professional development.

You can study the MRes as a campus-based or DL course. The DL course is supported by excellent online materials and offers you even more flexibility so that you can can tailor your learning to suit you and your employer. The DL route also allows you to gain a university qualification without taking a career break and provides an opportunity to gain professional recognition.

On the campus-based course, you will spend part of your time in the taught element of your course - covering your chosen subject and training in research methodology - and part in your personalised research project.

You can study within any of the Faculty's schools: the Institute of Criminal Justice Studies, the School of Education and Childhood Studies, the School of Languages and Area Studies, or the School of Social, Historical and Literary Studies. The course is run in conjunction with the University Graduate School.

What will I experience?

You will focus your research interest in the humanities and social sciences as you work towards being able to translate your learning into research related outputs (e.g. submission for a peer reviewed publication, peer reviewed research/knowledge transfer grant application, presentations).

What opportunities might it lead to?

The MRes will enable you to acquire research methods training and skills that are relevant to your current and future employment, and that may facilitate the achievement of your further career progression through engagement with continuing professional development activities.

Exit awards

You will graduate from the MRes with an award appropriate to the topics you have researched:

MRes African Studies

MRes American Studies

MRes Applied Linguistics

MRes Childhood Studies

MRes Communication

MRes Criminology and Criminal Justice Studies

MRes Development Studies

MRes Education

MRes European Politics

MRes Forensic Investigation

MRes Gender Studies

MRes History

MRes International Relations

MRes Literary Studies

MRes Politics

MRes Public Administration

MRes Security Risk Management

MRes Security Studies

MRes Sociology

MRes TESOL

MRes Translation

Now that my MRes journey is nearly over, I just wanted to write some words of gratitude for the support during my MRes studies. Everything possible was done to make our study experience enjoyable and meaningful. I think the course is well structured, well monitored and I strongly recommend the course.

Anna Rybak, MRes graduate

Key Facts

Duration

1 year full time or 2 years part time (campus-based), 1 year full time or 2 years part time (distance learning). Start: September.

Entry

A minimum of a 2:1 honours degree or equivalent in a subject relevant to the proposed subject specialism. You will be asked to write a short research proposal upon receipt of your application. Applicants to the Forensic Investigation area of supervision are subject to interview.English language proficiency at a minimum of IELTS band 6.5 with no component score below 6.0.

Fees

UK/EU/Channel Islands and Isle of Man students 2016/17 entry: full time: £4,700, part time: £1,570 in year 1 and £3,130* in year 22017/18 entry: full time: £4,700, part time: £1,570 in year 1 and £3,130* in year 2

Structure & Teaching

Structure

Pathway A: you will either focus one third of your time in research training and development and two-thirds of your time in your individual research project

Research Preparation and Development (60 credits)

Research Project (120 credits)

Pathway B: you will spend half of your time in the taught element of your course, covering your chosen subject specialism training and research training and development, and the other half in your individual research project.

Subject Specialism (30 credits)

Research Preparation and Development (60 credits)

Research Project (90 credits)

Teaching

The units involve a number of taught sessions which are selected by you and your supervisory team from those available with the Graduate School Development Programme (GSDP) and from Faculty and Department/School subject-specific provision. These will support a route towards further research that synergises with research themes in the Faculty.

Research proposal

You will refine and submit your research proposal as part of the course, but it is important that you know the area of study you intend to research and that we have an appropriate supervisor for you. Please check this list, and draft a 1000-word outline of your proposed research area to accompany your application form.

Facilities & Features

Respected research centres

Graduate School

The University of Portsmouth Graduate School is the first port of call for information for all postgraduate research students and supervisors

University Library

Our library offers a wealth of information

Respected research centres

Portsmouth's Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences is home to strong clusters of research. These include CEISR, the UK's top centre for research in European Studies (Research Fortnight), and ICJS, one of the UK's largest centres in criminology and criminal justice studies.

Graduate School

The University of Portsmouth Graduate School supports, administers and coordinates training for the MPhil, PhD, and Professional Doctorate programmes. We aim to involve you fully in our research programmes by providing professional training, offering high-quality supervision, and giving you the opportunity to develop your knowledge and to equip you for your future career or further research.

University Library

Modern, comfortable and a great learning environment, our library offers a wealth of information including 400,000 books, DVDs, maps and thousands of online ejournals and newspapers. Many electronic resources are available anywhere, 24/7 and our friendly staff are always on hand to help.

Budgeting for your studies

There may be extra costs arising from your studies which you will need to consider when planning your expenditure.

Some are common costs to all courses of study. These may include the cost of study texts, reference books, photocopying and computer supplies. Others relate to specific courses and may include field trips, materials and specialist equipment.

Other costs to consider

There may be travel costs for placements. These can be in the region of £50 - £1000.

Distance learners may be required to pay for travel, accommodation and subsistence to attend our optional campus induction events, workshops and study days. These may be in the region of £50 - £500. There may be travel costs for optional internships/placements. These will vary depending on the nature of internship/placement and can range from £50 - £1000.

Careers & Opportunities

Career prospects

The MRes will enable you to acquire research methods training and skills that are relevant to your current and future employment and potentially facilitate the achievement of your further career progression through engagement with continuing professional development activities.

Career planning

One of the benefits of studying at Portsmouth is the support that we provide to our Master's and Research Degree students in career planning. Our careers and recruitment service can assist you in career research and finding employment opportunities. Help is also available if you wish to find a part-time job while studying your degree.

We offer our postgraduate students and alumni one-to-one appointments with a careers adviser, or an online service for those not able to travel back to the University. Our alumni can call on our career services for five years after graduation.

In addition, regular employability events offer you the chance to meet employers, find out about different career sectors and improve your applications or CV. The Graduate Summer Programme provides a range of guidance and employability seminars and workshops.

Benefits of Postgraduate Study

Regardless of whether you are seeking to build on your studies, further your career or pursue a career change, a postgraduate qualification adds to your achievement record.

Postgraduate study may greatly improve your chances of getting that first break.

Apply now

Online application form

Postgraduate Information Days

Our Postgraduate Information Days for 2016 entry have now finished.

If you would like to visit the campus you can download our free walking tour for a self-guided tour of the University. You can visit Monday - Friday between 8.30am and 4.00pm. We have an open-door policy so you will be able to take a look into our buildings, speak to some of our support services and get a feel for the campus. Find out more information about our self-guided walking tours.

If you are unable to visit us, why not contact the admissions team for your course of interest via our course pages.